Respite Care at The Salvation Army Aged Care

The Salvation Army Aged Care acknowledges all who make it their mission to care for others. However, sometimes even heroes need a break. Respite care is for caregivers in the community who may be seeking temporary respite from their role. 

The Salvation Army Aged Care Centres across the country offer permanent residential care, as well as respite (short-term), including post-hospitalisation care. According to Area Manager Karim Beheram, respite care is very important. “It gives the primary carer a bit of a break so that they can concentrate on their own wellbeing,” he explains. “It also gives the care recipient an opportunity to experience the care that we provide. We make sure that our residents have a good experience and that they feel like they’re at home,” Karim says.

Macquarie Lodge Aged Care Centre is one of our Aged Care Centres in South Sydney. According to Care Manager Nobuko Fujito, the best person to speak to about respite care is the Admissions Manager. At Macquarie Lodge, there is also a pre-admissions day where clinicians make time to see potential respite residents prior to admission. “Family members and residents can ask a lot of questions,” she says. Upon admission to the Centre, Nobuko says that most respite residents will stay for a period of two weeks.

“Within those two weeks, our respite co-ordinator will have one-on-one time with the resident to make sure all their care needs and requests are met to the best of our ability,” Karim says. “There is also constant feedback with their family members.” He explains that the menu choice for residents is cooked by chefs on-site and that a range of individual and group lifestyle activities such a watching a movie or arts and crafts are provided too.

Access to respite care is based on availability and the level of care required. Find out more about The Salvation Army Aged Care’s respite care services at: agedcare.salvos.org.au/residential-aged-care/respite-care/ or call 1300 111 227.